Question: Which state Kiwifruit has first obtained the organic fruit certification?
(a) Arunachal Pradesh
(b) Himachal Pradesh
(c) Sikkim
(d) Meghalaya
Answer: (a)
Related facts:
- Arunachal Pradesh became the first state in India to get the organic fruit certification for the Kiwis grown in Zero Valley.
- The organic certification was provided by the Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North East Region (MOVCD-NER), a scheme for the northeastern states by the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare under the Central government.
- Organic fruit certification implies that there are no chemical fertilisers or pesticides involved in its cultivation process.
- Such certification involves years long strict scientific assessment by by the regulatory body, Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA).
- Kiwis of Ziro Valley — located in Lower Subansiri district — were certified as organic following a standard three-year-process.
About Kiwi fruit:
- The Kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa)or Chinese gooseberry, originally grew wild in China.
- It was introduced in New Zealand in 1904 by a schoolteacher who had returned from China with the seeds. The New Zealanders called it “kiwi” after their national bird.
- Kiwi is a deciduous fruiting vine native to Yangtze river valley of south and central China. It is also called “China’s miracle fruit” and “Horticulture wonder of New Zealand”.
- A domesticated variety of kiwi was introduced as a commercial fruit only in 2000 in Arunachal Pradesh.
- Kiwi cultivation is conducive to areas experiencing 700-800 chilling hours (no. of hours during which temperature remains at or below 7 C during the winter season).
- The plant can be grown at 800-1500 m. above mean seal level. A rainfall of about 150 cm. /year is sufficient.
- Deep, rich, well-drained sandy loam soils are ideal for cultivation of kiwi. A soil pH slightly less than 6.9 results in maximum yield but higher pH upto 7.3 adversely affects the yield due to Mn deficiency.
By-Amar Mani Upadhyay
Links:
https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-the-rise-of-the-wild-arunachal-kiwi-7074129/
http://www.nhb.gov.in/model-project-reports/Horticulture%20Crops/Kiwi/Kiwi1.htm
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/271232